Critical choice

Some of the most forward-thinking engineering consultants are not aware of the full range of services provided by design software resellers. Many do not realise that this new generation has evolved to provide much more than just product.

With CAD products becoming increasingly specialised and discipline-specific yet simultaneously interoperable, resellers no longer just sell AutoCAD, or its equivalent, without knowing much about what the end-user is going to do with it.

Today, the better resellers can provide a valuable, cost-effective consultancy service, helping you to maximise the benefits of the latest technology — and also your return on investment.

So if your existing reseller is still talking to you about its latest special offers and what it can sell you, rather than what you need, it may be time to look around for someone who can provide the whole spectrum of services.

But how do you go about choosing someone new, and what questions do you need to ask? To begin with, you should enquire about the reseller's expertise in the engineering industry. As CAD has become more industry-focused, the better companies have built up staff with a background in the industry they serve, thus providing a common language and understanding.